Dubai-Abu Dhabi highlights: Saudi orders Iranian military attache to leave; UAE intercepts missiles

Dubai news LIVE: The UAE has assured India that the safety of Indians living in the Gulf country is its "priority", stressing that they are protected and treated like family, especially amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia which has seen the emirate facing attacks from Iran.

UAE Ambassador to India Abdulnasser Alshaali also hailed India's move to co-sponsor a UN resolution that condemned Iran's attacks against Gulf countries, saying it was a statement of principle from a country that the UAE considers a strategic partner and friend, at a moment when it mattered most. The UAE will remember that India was among those "who stood with us first", he said.

"The safety of Indian nationals in the UAE is a priority. They are protected and are treated as family, including the 200 nationalities living in the country in peace and harmony," Alshaali told PTI Videos.

He said that UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited five injured civilians in the hospital: two Emiratis, one Indian, one Sudanese and one Iranian. He said: "They are all our responsibility."

"Four million Indians live in the UAE; they are not a statistic. They are the son from Kerala sending money home each month so his mother can pay her medical bills, the engineer from Hyderabad building infrastructure that will stand for a century, the teacher from Tamil Nadu shaping the futures of Emirati children," he said.

In 2024, the UAE was the second-largest source of remittances to India, totalling USD 21.6 billion. (PTI)

Dubai news LIVE: An Indian seafarer remains stranded near a port in Qatar as the ongoing conflict involving Iran has effectively blocked movement through the Strait of Hormuz. His wife, Smruti Rekha Sahu from Odisha, said he was due to return after a four-month contract but has been stuck for over 10 days as vessels are unable to cross the crucial shipping route amid escalating hostilities.

Appealing for urgent intervention, she said crew members are facing shortages of food and water while missile activity continues in the region. Their family has urged both state and central governments to ensure a safe rescue.

(ANI)

Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi on Saturday, exchanging Navroz and Eid greetings while discussing the latest developments in the ongoing conflict and its wider regional implications.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also held a conversation with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, extending greetings on Eid and Nowruz and discussing the evolving situation in West Asia. In a statement, Modi said, “Spoke with President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian and conveyed Eid and Nowruz greetings. We expressed hope that this festive season brings peace, stability and prosperity to West Asia.”

Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE: Abdulnasser Alshaali, UAE's Ambassador to India on Saturday wrote an open letter on the occasion of Eid to the UAE-India CEPA Council (a bilateral investment and trade facilitation organisation supported by the UAE and Indian Governments).

According to the envoy, the message reflected the resilience of the UAE and the strength of the UAE-India partnership. It also had a message for every Indian in the UAE of reassurance, solidarity, and the certainty that the bilateral partnership will only grow stronger.

The Ambassador, in his letter, wrote that despite Iran targeting the UAE commercial activity, it had not stopped, and essential services were operating normally. (ANI)

Dubai news LIVE: The United States is set to release the first batch of crude from its emergency reserves as part of a larger 172 million-barrel plan aimed at cooling soaring fuel prices. Around 45 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve will begin entering the market, boosting supply as oil prices remain elevated due to disruptions linked to the Iran conflict.

The move comes as shipments through the Strait of Hormuz – which handles about 20% of global oil – remain heavily disrupted, pushing global prices above $100 per barrel. While the release is expected to ease supply pressure, fuel prices in the US have already hit near four-year highs, raising concerns over inflation and cost of living ahead of key political milestones.

(Bloomberg)

More than 20 countries on Saturday said they would contribute to efforts ensuring safe passage in the Strait of Hormuz, condemning Iran's closure of the vital waterway.

"We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait. We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning," said the 22 countries, mostly European but also including the UAE and Bahrain.

"We condemn in the strongest terms recent attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf, attacks on civilian infrastructure including oil and gas installations, and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces," they said in a joint statement. (AFP)

Dubai news LIVE: Iran's highest operational command unit has warned the United Arab Emirates against allowing its soil to be used again as a launch pad for aggression targeting the Iranian islands of Abu Musa and Greater Tunb in the Persian Gulf.

The warning was issued by the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Iran's highest operational command unit that coordinates operations between the Army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

In a statement, spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaqari said, "As we have previously announced, and demonstrated in practice, we will strike the origin of any aggression against our territory and national sovereignty." (ANI)

Dubai news LIVE: Iran has issued a strong warning to the United Arab Emirates, cautioning against allowing its territory to be used for attacks on Iranian-controlled islands of Abu Musa and Greater Tunb in the Persian Gulf. Iran’s top military command said it would target Ras Al Khaimah with “heavy and crushing strikes” if any further aggression originates from UAE soil, reiterating its stance of responding forcefully to threats against its sovereignty.

The warning comes amid intensified hostilities following US-Israeli actions against Iran, with Tehran claiming strikes on American-linked facilities across the region. UAE authorities said their air defences have intercepted hundreds of missiles and drones since the conflict began, resulting in casualties and injuries.

(ANI)

Dubai news LIVE: Iran’s attacks on energy infrastructure in Qatar have forced a halt in helium production, triggering concerns beyond energy markets and into global technology supply chains. Qatar, which supplies about one-third of the world’s helium, suspended output shortly after the conflict escalated, with further strikes expected to cut exports by around 14%.

Though commonly associated with balloons, helium is critical for advanced industries including semiconductor manufacturing, space exploration and medical imaging. The disruption is now raising alarms over potential shortages that could impact chip production and other high-tech sectors worldwide, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of the ongoing conflict.

(AP)

Dubai news LIVE: Iran's military warned the United Arab Emirates on Saturday against allowing attacks from its territory on two disputed islands in the Gulf, near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

"We warn the United Arab Emirates if any further aggression originates from its territory against the Iranian islands of Abu Musa and Greater Tunb in the Persian Gulf, Iran's powerful armed forces will subject Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE to heavy strikes," the military's operational command Khatam Al-Anbiya said in a statement carried by Tasnim news agency.

Abu Musa and the Greater Tunb islands, which are controlled by Iran but claimed by the UAE, have long been a source of dispute between the two countries.

The islands are located in the Gulf near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, through which normally about a fifth of the world's oil passes. (AFP)

Dubai news LIVE: Iran has issued a strong warning to the United Arab Emirates, cautioning against allowing its territory to be used for attacks on Iranian-controlled islands of Abu Musa and Greater Tunb in the Persian Gulf. Iran’s top military command said it would target Ras Al Khaimah with “heavy and crushing strikes” if any further aggression originates from UAE soil, reiterating its stance of responding forcefully to threats against its sovereignty.

The warning comes amid intensified hostilities following US-Israeli actions against Iran, with Tehran claiming strikes on American-linked facilities across the region. UAE authorities said their air defences have intercepted hundreds of missiles and drones since the conflict began, resulting in casualties and injuries.

(ANI)

Dubai news LIVE: Iran has issued a strong warning to the United Arab Emirates, cautioning against allowing its territory to be used for attacks on Iranian-controlled islands of Abu Musa and Greater Tunb in the Persian Gulf. Iran’s top military command said it would target Ras Al Khaimah with “heavy and crushing strikes” if any further aggression originates from UAE soil, reiterating its stance of responding forcefully to threats against its sovereignty.

The warning comes amid intensified hostilities following US-Israeli actions against Iran, with Tehran claiming strikes on American-linked facilities across the region. UAE authorities said their air defences have intercepted hundreds of missiles and drones since the conflict began, resulting in casualties and injuries.

(ANI)

Dubai news LIVE: Iran’s attacks on energy infrastructure in Qatar have forced a halt in helium production, triggering concerns beyond energy markets and into global technology supply chains. Qatar, which supplies about one-third of the world’s helium, suspended output shortly after the conflict escalated, with further strikes expected to cut exports by around 14%.

Though commonly associated with balloons, helium is critical for advanced industries including semiconductor manufacturing, space exploration and medical imaging. The disruption is now raising alarms over potential shortages that could impact chip production and other high-tech sectors worldwide, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of the ongoing conflict.

(AP)

Dubai news LIVE: The ongoing conflict in West Asia has killed over 2,300 people so far, with the heaviest casualties reported in Iran and Lebanon. Millions have also been displaced across affected regions, as fighting continues to intensify.

The breakdown shows more than 1,300 deaths in Iran, over 1,000 in Lebanon, 15 in Israel, and 13 US military personnel killed in the region. The scale of displacement is also severe, with large populations forced to flee homes amid ongoing strikes and instability.

(AP)

Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE: Abdulnasser Alshaali, UAE's Ambassador to India on Saturday wrote an open letter on the occasion of Eid to the UAE-India CEPA Council (a bilateral investment and trade facilitation organisation supported by the UAE and Indian Governments).

According to the envoy, the message reflected the resilience of the UAE and the strength of the UAE-India partnership. It also had a message for every Indian in the UAE of reassurance, solidarity, and the certainty that the bilateral partnership will only grow stronger.

The Ambassador in his letter wrote that despite Iran targeting the UAE commercial activity in the Emirates had not stopped and essential service were operating normally.

"Since the start of this conflict, Iran has launched an aggressive attack of over 2,000 missiles and drones against the United Arab Emirates, with the vast majority intercepted by the country's defence systems. If the past three weeks have shown the world anything, it is this: the UAE has met this moment with extraordinary preparedness, technological sophistication, and operational readiness. (ANI)

Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE: A widening Middle East conflict could trigger a fresh wave of global inflation if disruptions spread across supply chains, trade routes and financial markets, according to a report by SBI Research. The report warns that while the immediate impact may be limited, prolonged tensions could push up energy prices, weaken business sentiment and create ripple effects across the global economy.

For India, the impact may be relatively contained, though not negligible. The report highlights risks to crude oil imports – of which India depends on imports for nearly 90% – and remittances from Gulf countries. However, diversified oil sourcing and policy measures could help cushion the blow, even as higher oil prices may still nudge inflation and widen the current account deficit if the conflict drags on.

(ANI)

Dubai news LIVE: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has reached out to Islamic nations and neighbouring countries, saying Iran is not in dispute with them and views them as “brothers.” In a message posted on Eid, he said divisions in the region only benefit the “Zionist entity,” urging countries to avoid internal differences amid ongoing tensions.

“To the Islamic countries and our dear neighbors, you are our brothers and we are not engaged in any dispute with you. The only beneficiary of our differences is the Zionist entity. We ask God on #Eid_al-Fitr to grant us strength and unity by acting upon the teachings of #Rasul_Allah to gain His pleasure,” he wrote.

Dubai news LIVE: The United States is set to release the first batch of crude from its emergency reserves as part of a larger 172 million-barrel plan aimed at cooling soaring fuel prices. Around 45 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve will begin entering the market, boosting supply as oil prices remain elevated due to disruptions linked to the Iran conflict.

The move comes as shipments through the Strait of Hormuz – which handles about 20% of global oil – remain heavily disrupted, pushing global prices above $100 per barrel. While the release is expected to ease supply pressure, fuel prices in the US have already hit near four-year highs, raising concerns over inflation and cost of living ahead of key political milestones.

(Bloomberg)

Dubai news LIVE: The ongoing conflict in West Asia has killed over 2,300 people so far, with the heaviest casualties reported in Iran and Lebanon. Millions have also been displaced across affected regions, as fighting continues to intensify.

The breakdown shows more than 1,300 deaths in Iran, over 1,000 in Lebanon, 15 in Israel, and 13 US military personnel killed in the region. The scale of displacement is also severe, with large populations forced to flee homes amid ongoing strikes and instability.

(AP)

Dubai news LIVE: South Korea is engaging with Iran and other nations to help restore normal shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global energy supplies. Seoul said it is closely monitoring the situation and working to protect its citizens and secure vital oil transport links as the West Asia conflict enters its fourth week.

South Korea has also joined several countries in condemning attacks on commercial vessels and the effective closure of the strait, urging Iran to ensure safe passage.

(ANI)

Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE: A widening Middle East conflict could trigger a fresh wave of global inflation if disruptions spread across supply chains, trade routes and financial markets, according to a report by SBI Research. The report warns that while the immediate impact may be limited, prolonged tensions could push up energy prices, weaken business sentiment and create ripple effects across the global economy.

For India, the impact may be relatively contained, though not negligible. The report highlights risks to crude oil imports – of which India depends on imports for nearly 90% – and remittances from Gulf countries. However, diversified oil sourcing and policy measures could help cushion the blow, even as higher oil prices may still nudge inflation and widen the current account deficit if the conflict drags on.

(ANI)

Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE: United Airlines is trimming flights as soaring oil prices - driven by the ongoing conflict involving Iran - push up fuel costs. The airline plans to cut around 5% of its schedule, mainly targeting low-demand and off-peak routes, while also suspending some international services to stay profitable.

For passengers, this could mean higher ticket prices and fewer flight options. Airlines are already raising fares to offset rising fuel bills, with demand still strong despite the cost surge. Experts warn oil could stay above $100 per barrel for years, meaning travel may remain expensive and slightly less convenient in the near future.

(Reuters)

Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE: Abdulnasser Alshaali, UAE's Ambassador to India on Saturday wrote an open letter on the occasion of Eid to the UAE-India CEPA Council (a bilateral investment and trade facilitation organisation supported by the UAE and Indian Governments).

According to the envoy, the message reflected the resilience of the UAE and the strength of the UAE-India partnership. It also had a message for every Indian in the UAE of reassurance, solidarity, and the certainty that the bilateral partnership will only grow stronger.

The Ambassador, in his letter, wrote that despite Iran targeting the UAE commercial activity, it had not stopped, and essential services were operating normally.

(With ANI inputs)

Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE: US President Donald Trump said his administration was considering "winding down" military operations in West Asia even as the United States announced it was sending more warships and Marines to the region and Iran threatened to attack tourist sites worldwide, Associated Press repor

The mixed US messages came after another climb in oil prices plunged the US stock market, and was followed by a Trump administration announcement that it will lift sanctions on Iranian oil loaded on ships, a move aimed at wrangling soaring fuel prices.

Dubai news LIVE: The United States has temporarily relaxed sanctions on Iran’s oil exports, allowing the sale and delivery of Iranian crude already loaded on ships for 30 days, until April 19. The move is aimed at cooling surging global oil prices amid the ongoing conflict, potentially adding around 140 million barrels to the market. The waiver also permits limited imports into the US to complete existing transactions, though it remains unclear how much oil will actually flow there.

The decision is part of a broader push by the administration to stabilise fuel prices as supply disruptions intensify, especially around the Strait of Hormuz. The easing is expected to benefit major Asian buyers, who have historically relied on discounted Iranian crude.

(Reuters)